Switch-point-operating mechanism.



D. SAMAIA.

SWITCH POINT OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED DEC. 30, 1912.

1,089,588, Patented Mar. 10, 191i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DINO SAMAIA, 0F BRUSSELS, BELGIUM.

SWITGH-POINT-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 10, 1914:.

Original application filed. April 13, 1910, Serial No. 555,253. Dividedand this application filed December 30, 1912. Serial No. 739,400.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DINO SAMAIA, a sub ject of the King of Italy,residing at Brussels, Belgium, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Switch-Point-Operating Mechanism, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in switch point operating mechanismand the structure illustrated in the present application is divided outfrom my co-pending application filed April 13, 1910, Serial Number555,253.

It is one of the objects of my invention to quickly and securely shiftand subsequently anchor the switch point, from one position to theother, by mechanism which will dead lock the points in their adjustedpositions. My invention involves the employment of springs, adapted toact in opposite directions, so as to facilitate shifting movement of theswitch points from one position to the other.

Further features and objects of the invention will be more fullydescribed in connection with the accompanying drawings, and will be moreparticularly pointed out in and by the appended claims.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of arailroad track showing the switch points and connecting cross bars. Fig.2 is a top plan view of a portion of the track showing the actuatingdevice for moving the cross bar, the top of the casing in which theactuating device is inclosed being removed. Fig. 3 is a similar top planView as shown in Fig. 2, the casing being closed. Fig. 4 is a sectionthrough the rail and through the casing containing the connecting meansbetween the actuating device and the cross bar. Fig. 5 is a top planview of a track. Fig. 6 is a view of the cross bar illustrated in Fig.5.

Like characters of reference designate similar parts throughout thedifierent figures of the drawings.

The switch points 18 in Fig. 1, are connected by a cross bar 14: whichis adapted to be displaced by the oscillation of hell crank levers 15engaging pins 14 on said cross bar.

The bell crank levers 15 are connected with a rod or chain 16 whichleads to bell crank levers 18, disposed at the approach to the switch.The bell crank levers 18 engage with their arms, bell crank levers 17,the free arms of which project so that they may be operated by anelement suspended from the approaching vehicle. If the bell crank levers17 are actuated, they also oscillate the bell crank levers 18, andturning the bell crank levers 15, displace the cross bar14, whichactuates the switch points. Springs 19 are preferably interposed betweenthe bell crank levers 18 and the tension members 16.

By reference to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the levers 17 and 18 aremounted adjacent'to the rail and are inclosed in a casing 20 which isadjacent to the web 24 of the rail. The free arm 22, of the lever 17,projects laterally from the casing and projects into a depression of thewheel flange groove 23;

A hook, movably disposed on a vehicle serves to actuate the pointchanging mechanism and may be allowed to engage the pro jecting arm 22,of the lever 17 as disclosed in my pending application, filed April 13,1910, Serial Number 555.253. For the purpose of guiding the hook beforeit engages said arm 22, and after the release therefrom, inclinedportions 26 are provided in the rail, as may be clearly seenby referenceto Fig. 2.

The connecting means between the bell crank lever 18, pivoted within thecasing 20, on the pin 39, and the bell crank lever 15, engaging aprojection 14' on the cross bar 14, is inclosed within a casing 37 toprotect the same against damages. In the modification shown in Fig. 3,the head of a rail 38 overlies the connecting means for the purpose ofpreventing damages to said means.

The cross bar shifting mechanism illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, is mainlyadapted for steam railroads, the levers for actuating the same beingsubstantially identical with the lever mechanism shown in Fig. 2, beingadapted to be actuated by a hook suspended from the locomotive of thetrain. The connecting means between the cross bar 46, and the bell cranklevers 18, are designated by 40, and are preferably in the shape of rodsor bars. They engage levers 41, pivoted upon supports 42, fixed to thestationary rails, the levers 41 being movably connected to bell cranklevers 43, which are pivotally mounted at 45, on the cross bar 14. A rod44 connects the two bell crank levers 43. The pivots 45, of thelevers-43, are attached to the moving cross bar 14, above which isplaced a bridle rod 50 connecting the points, and provided with a bar46, supporting two opposed springs 47 and 48. A projecting lug 49,supported by the cross bar 14, is located so that it projects over theportion remaining free in the middle of the bridle rod 50, between thesprings 47 and 48. It will be seen that any displacement of the bar 14moves the bridle rod 50 in the same direction, moving thereby the switchpoints attached to said last named bar.

Theoperation of the device is as follows:'-If the left track, forinstance, is to a be opened, the left hook of the locomotive strikesagainst the arm 22, of the bell crank lever 17 exerting thereby a pullupon the rod 40. The lever 41 will assume a position of alinement withthe adjacent arm of the "bell crank lever 43, so that the bar 14 isdisplaced to the right. In this movement of the bar 14, the bridle rodis carried in the same direction, shifting thereby also the bar 46 towhich the switch points are connected. At the same time, the rod 44,drawn by the lever 43, actuates the system on the other track rail sothat the entire switch is in a position required for placing the switchin the opposite direction. As the arm of the lever 43 and the lever 41are in alinement with each other, the entire system is locked in-thisposition, also thereby locking the switch points in the requiredposition. It is obvious that the switch is a spring switch,

' that is to say, the switch point will yield when a train passes fromthe butt to the point of the switch point since the springs 47 and 48permit "suchyielding movement according as the switch is open or closed.As soon as the action of the flanges has ceased, the spring extendsagain and restores the points to their original position.

While I have herein shown and described one specific embodiment of myinvention, I

' 4 do not wish to be limited thereto except for such limitations as theclaims may import.

' Y I claim:

1. The combination with a pair of railroad rails and a pair of switchpoints, of

erate said'switch points in either direction,

a member disposed adjacent one of said rails and adapted to be operatedby a passing train, a link, operative connections -between said memberand said link to transmit a movement to tension'said link,

connections between said link and said bar to throw said polnts in onedirection when sa1d lmk is put under tension, a second 'member adaptedto be operated by a train, a

second link, connections between said second member and said second linkadapted to place said second link under tension when said second memberis operated, and connections between said second link and said baradapted to operate said bar in the other direction when said second linkis placed under tension.

2. The combination of a pair of rails and a pair of switch points, of abar placed transversely of said rails and adapted to operate said pointsin either direction, a pivoted bell lever placed adjacent one of saidrails, one arm of said lever being adapted to be operated by a passingtrain, a second bell lever one arm of which is adapted to be operated byone of the arms of said first mentioned arm, a link, a connectionbetween said second bell lever and said link adapted to place said linkunder tension when said first mentioned bell lever is operated,connection between said link and said bar adapted to operate said bar inone direction when said link is placed under tension, a second link,connections between said second link and said bar adapted to throw saidbar in the other direction when said second link is placed undertension, and a second pair of hell levers one of which is adapted to beoperated by a passing train and which are adapted to place said secondlinks under tension when operated by a passing train.

3. The combination with a pair of railroad rails and a pair of switchpoints; of a bar mounted for transverse movement relative to said rails,a second bar fixed to said switch points, a resilient connection betweenthe first and second bars, and a lever mechanism to move the first barincluding a pair of plates each fixed to one of said rails, a pair ofbell crank levers pivoted at their angles to the first bar, links eachconnecting one arm of a respective bell crank lever to the respectiveplate, a third link connecting the remaining arms of said bell cranklevers, and operating rods connected to the first mentioned links.

4. The combination with a pair of railroad rails and a pair of switchpoints, of a bar slidable transversely of said rails, a pair of platesconnected fixedly to said rails, a pair of bell crank levers pivoted attheir angles to said bar, links each connecting one of said plates to anarm of a respective bell crank lever, operating rods connected to saidlinks, a third link connecting the remaining arms of the bell cranklevers, a second bar connecting said switch points, a centrally disposedlug on the first bar,

spaced lugs on the second bar, a bridle rod being arranged on oppositesides of the lug passing through the said lugs, adjusting on the firstrod. 10 nuts adjacent each end of the bridle rod, In testimony whereof Iaflix my signature and coiled springs surrounding said bridle in thepresence of tWo Witnesses.

rod, each of said springs hearing at one end DINO SAMAIA. against thelug on the first rod and at the Witnesses:

other end against the adjusting nuts on the GASTON MAX.

respective end of the bridle rod, said springs CHARLES O. JOHNSON.

Copies of thil patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addreuinzthe Gommiu'ioner of Patentl. Washington, D. G.

